When thinking about research, we often approach it with the goal of doing it in a good way. This can lead us to thinking about decolonizing methodologies and how they can ground our work. In this coffee conversation, Sherri Pooyak of CAAN and Madeline Gallard of PAN chat about what decolonizing methodologies can look like, the roots of some of these methodologies and how they can be embedded in research.
Sherri Pooyak is the Community-Based Research Manager, Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research Collaborative (AHA Centre), at Communities, Alliances and Networks (CAAN). She is a PAN Affiliated Researcher and is the Co-Principal Investigator on the Making It Work Study. Sherri is of Cree ancestry from Sweetgrass First Nation, Saskatchewan and currently resides in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Sherri Graduated with a Masters’ of Social Work in 2009, her work focusing on Indigenous women involved in sex work, and focused on the positive aspects of familial relationships and the resilience of Indigenous women who are involved in the sex trade. As the Community-Based Research Manager, Sherri assists Indigenous communities in developing their research capacities, managing Community-Research Associates and mentoring Indigenous students who are interested in Indigenous health research.
Introductions
In this section, Sherri introduces herself and Madeline and Sherri discuss the evolving field of decolonizing research methodologies.
Hallmarks/Key Elements of Decolonizing Methodologies
In this section, Sherri identifies key elements of decolonizing methodologies and how these methods have developed and begun to be embedded in research, including the importance of relationship-building.
First steps for teams
In this section, Sherri talks about building your research team, tokenism, considerations for different Indigenous cultures, and the need for flexibility.
Examples/Projects Using Decolonizing Methodologies
In this section, Sherri identifies projects that utilize decolonizing methodologies and how decolonizing methodologies have shown up in these projects.
Resources for Learning More
In this section, Sherri and Madeline discuss resources to learn more about decolonizing research methodologies, including the Journal of Indigenous HIV Research; the International Journal of Indigenous Health; Dr. Margaret Kovach’s Indigenous Research Methodologies: Characteristics, Conversations, and Contexts; Shawn Wilson’s Research is Ceremony: Indigenous Research Methods and other resources!
This post was prepared for PAN’s Research and Evaluation Treehouse by Madeline Gallard, Paul Kerber, and Sherri Pooyak
Questions? Feedback? Get in touch!
Joanna Mendell, Director of Research and Evaluation
[email protected]
